Passion Meets Expertise in EdTech
Combining deep EdTech knowledge with a passion for education, EdLighten Solutions excels at crafting innovative digital learning experiences tailored to specific client needs. Whether through instructional design, EdTech integration, or customized professional development, they deliver actionable strategies that foster long-term growth and educational impact. Their comprehensive services ensure that each solution is backed by rigorous analysis and designed to meet unique organizational goals, enhancing both learning outcomes and operational efficiency.
About Us: Our Commitment, Vision, and Values
Mission Statement: Our mission is to leverage our deep passion for numbers, logic, education, and technology to deliver data-driven, well-researched solutions that are both creative and effective. As accomplished leaders with experience across various industries, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service to our clients. We prioritize our learners’ needs and go above and beyond to support their success.
Vision Statement: Our vision is to be a leading provider of innovative, technology-driven solutions that empower learners and organizations to achieve their full potential. We strive to create a positive impact through thoughtful, data-driven decisions and a commitment to excellence.
Equity Statement: At EdLighten Solutions, we are committed to fostering a culture of equity and inclusion by providing fair opportunities for all, ensuring our products and services are accessible and welcoming, valuing diversity, and creating an environment where everyone feels respected, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential; we prioritize fairness and equity in everything we do, delivering inclusive and accessible solutions that support the diverse needs of all learners, ensuring every learner has the opportunity to succeed.
SDP Certified: As a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE), EdLighten is proud to be recognized for our commitment to diversity and inclusion. Our WBE certification reflects our dedication to fostering equitable business practices, supporting women’s leadership, and driving innovative solutions across industries. Partnering with a WBE-certified organization like ours allows your company to contribute to supplier diversity goals while benefiting from our expertise and creative problem-solving.
SBPP certified: Our certification demonstrates our capability to meet state procurement needs while delivering cost-effective, innovative solutions. Partnering with us supports small business initiatives and helps build a more inclusive and thriving economy.
Leadership: Industry Expertise with Proven Results
As former math professors, we love numbers and logic and ensure all decisions are well researched and data-driven. As successful entrepreneurs, we understand the need for effective, actionable solutions based on creative, problem-solving. As proud nerds, we have enthusiastically developed our own software and love everything from the big picture to the fine details with technology. As accomplished leaders, we have worked for small and large companies and across varied industries from K-12, higher-ed, construction, real estate, and supply chain. As well-trained individuals with masters degrees and additional certifications, we have the necessary skill set to go above and beyond for our clients. As kids at heart, we know how to make every interaction fun and enjoyable. As loving parents and community volunteers, we believe in always putting the needs of our learners above all else.
Mary Stephens - CEO - mary@edlightensolutions.com
EdTech enthusiast, entrepreneur, educator, executive, and engineer. For 15 years, Mary served as founder and CEO of PrepForward (acquired by Public Consulting Group), a leading provider of online K-12 teacher preparation solutions used by institutions nationwide, including MA DESE, Teach for America, universities, and school districts. In addition, Mary has extensive teaching experience, including TAing Discrete Math at MIT, serving as adjunct faculty at UMass Boston and Elms College, and designing curriculum and teaching K-12 computers and math. This is coupled with her EdTech expertise from serving as research and development manager at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, founder of Omega Teaching, program manager of Edusoft, product marketing and strategy manager of Vizional, professional math consultant at Merrimack College, and founding board member of Alpha Public Schools. Her technical expertise started with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from MIT in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering.
Her passion for education continues outside of work as she serves on the MIT Educational Council, was elected to her local school council, serves as an elected Sudbury School Committee member, is a children’s book author, and is active in the community where she raises her three children.
Annie Schultz - COO - annie@edlightensolutions.com
Annie brings a wealth of experience to the education industry, boasting over 15 years of expertise in teaching, educational leadership, curriculum design, instructional design, and technology integration. She started her career as a math instructor at Alverno College. She wrote and implemented multiple courses there while working with students preparing for Praxis, medication calculation and NCLEX exams. Annie also served as the System Division Chair of General Education for four years, overseeing learning development, curriculum, and assessment of the general education department at Herzing University. Her focus centers on crafting dynamic online learning experiences that align with industry best practices, particularly accessibility and engagement that align to learning outcomes. Recently, her curriculum development focus has been licensure preparation for teachers and continuing education courses for Construction professions. Developing courses in conjunction with Educational Learning Services and courses approved by contractor licensing boards in multiple states.
Annie has a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee and is certified in Instructional design and accessibility. Her multifaceted educational background, encompassing online learning expertise and administrative leadership, positions her as a valuable asset in pursuing innovative and effective educational experiences. She is also a dedicated mother with a deep passion for animals, sports, photography, and an insatiable curiosity for learning new things.
Experience: Delivering Impactful and Transformative Projects
Our current initiatives span a diverse range of EdTech strategies, focusing on innovative solutions and meaningful outcomes. We are collaborating with prominent organizations such as the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, The Reading Circuit, Pathways2Careers, Northeast Emergency Management Training and Education Center (NEMTEC), Education Foundations, Authentic Communication Matters, and Diversity North. Our work involves leading professional learning communities for educator preparation faculty on evidence-based early literacy, integrating LTI tools, conducting accessibility reviews, supporting early college coaching programs, developing HR training courses, and providing comprehensive instructional design and curriculum development services. These projects demonstrate our commitment to driving educational excellence and ensuring every solution is tailored, scalable, and effective.
As PreK-12 learning steadily migrates towards digital platforms, we can transform traditional materials into online formats, catering to the unique needs of K-12 students or teachers. From teaching in the classroom, to training teachers preparing for the classroom, to serving on the founding board of a network of charter schools, to working with school districts and departments of education, we truly understand how to overcome the challenges facing schools.
Past: School districts (including Cambridge MA, Chelsea MA, & Elizabeth City NC), Charter school networks (including KIPP, Alpha, & New Heights)
As former professors of in-person, hybrid, and online courses, we understand the needs of faculty in higher education institutions. With this deep knowledge, we assist faculty in transitioning traditional in-person courses to online formats. In addition, our curriculum specialists can create new courses to support emerging degree offerings designed on the client’s learning management system or provide our own.
Past: UMass Boston, Elms College, Herzing University, Alverno College, Relay, Merrimack College, Lawrence University, Aspen University, ITT Technical Institute, MIT, Bay Path University
With lofty missions, tight budgets, and limited resources, non-profits need efficient, actionable results that are proven and repeatable. We create, shape, and deliver resources, including content strategy documents, training courses, and marketing materials, aligned with the organization’s mission and goals.
Past: RISE Mississippi, Teach for America, Alpha Public Schools, Center for Equity in Urban Education, Academy of Urban School Leadership
From real estate to construction, industry professionals need training to ensure they are prepared for licensure and their careers. With our instructional design expertise, we develop targeted solutions that meet the needs of these diverse industries.
Past: New York Real Estate Institute, PDH Academy Contractors, Wisconsin Contractors Institute, 24/7 Massachusetts Contractor Academy
We craft interactive, eLearning courses that serve as the bedrock for upskilling employees, maintaining their proficiency, collaborating closely with HR departments or other learning and development teams, and addressing specific organizational needs with targeted learning materials. Furthermore, we have transformed clients’ business strategy and vision for bringing edtech solutions to the target markets.
Past: ETS, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, RealizeIt
We specialize in creating learning tools to meet the training needs of government organizations, whether it be cultivating government employees or the people they serve. Adherence to established systems and alignment with regional, state, or national requirements are often integral to their work, given the bureaucratic landscape in which they operate.
Past: MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, RI Department of Education, Teach to Lead, Troops to Teachers, Kazakhstan Center for Pedagogical Measurements
